Movable highway signal



April 9, 1952 E. A. LIEUTARD MOVABLE HIGHWAY SIGNAL 2 Sl-iEETS--SHEET 1 Filed June 22, 1950 1 .l mm A m M ,v, n A F. 7 M 1 m Ne w m m m u m m w T (W L i ml 2 m is V 9 Q April 1952 E. A. LIEUTARD 2,594,463

MOVABLE HIGHWAY SIGNAL Filed June 22, 1950 2 SHEETS,SHEET 2 Fig 3 R J. /4 L 2/ l6 mg? jig F -g 4 32 33 l/VKENTOR.

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Affy Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOVABLE HIGHWAY SEGNAL. Emile A. Lieutard, San Francisco, Calif.

Application June 22, 1950, Serial No. 169,760

This invention relates to improvements in movable highway signals and has particular reference to a semaphore-like signal which will indicate to an oncoming driver that there is a road block or other trafiic hazard which must be observed before proceeding.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which is automatic in its operation and which can be actuated without connection to a power line.

A still further object is to produce a device of this character which is readily movable, one which is economical to manufacture, and one which is attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved signal,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a schematic arrangement of the wirmg.

It is very often necessary to et up road blocks or other identifying means for indicating to traffic over a highway that there is a road block, a detour or an emergency stop and this is customarily done either by employing a signal man or setting up one or more saw horses or like obstructions, upon which is mounted a sign reading, Detour, Stop, or whatever the necessary instructions may be. As a road block or other condition may exist for a considerable period, it is possible that, at night, such an obscure sign or road block may not be observed and, therefore, many accidents have occurred as a result of persons driving into the road block or beyond, without observing the necessary information to make the driving safe.

Applicant has, therefore, devised a signal arrangement which may be readily placed at any point on the highway or adjacent thereto, which signal will be illuminated and which will also have a wig-wag movement so as to attract the attention of the driver of the vehicle. It is a well-known fact that lights along the highway have become so numerous that a person may quickly drive past a light that is stationary, but that a moving light always does attract attention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 2 Claims. (Cl. 177329) wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a base which may be hollow so as to house batteries through the medium of which the signal may be illuminated.

Mounted upon the base are uprights 6 and l, which are joined by cross pieces 8, 9 and l I, thus forming a barrier of suflicient size to be readily of solenoids, as shown at It and 2!, which are secured to the upper end of the support 13.

These solenoids have their armatures connected to the inner side of the top of the hollow arm it, by springs 22 and 23 respectively.

A spring 24, is carried by the upper end of the support I3, and ha its upper end freely slidable in a bushing 26, formed in the top of the arm.

In order to control the action of the solenoids i9 and 2!, I provide a pair of micro switches 21 and 28, each having an operating lever, as shown at 29 and 3! respectively.

The result of this construction is that, when the device is set up and connected to a suitable source of electric energy; as, for instance, a battery A, positioned in the base, current may then pass by a wire 32 to one of the contacts of the switches 21 and 28.

The opposite side of the switch 21, is, in turn, connected to the winding of the solenoid I9 and by a wire 33, back to the opposite side of the battery.

The opposite side of switch 28, is connected to the winding of the solenoid 2|, and thence by the wire 33, back to the opposite side of the battery.

The bulb I9, is also connected to this battery through a suitable connection, not shown.

In operation, when the signal is placed upon the highway and the control switch is closed, the attendant moves the arm it, as, for instance, in Fig. 3, so that the arm moves in a clockwise direction. This initial movement causes the lever ii, to push against the lever 29 until the arc caused by the movement of the arm l6, carries the lever 31, to a point where it will slip off the end of the lever 29 and, in so 'doing, the lever 3!, will have caused the lever 29, to engage the button of the micro switch 21, causing the flow of current through the solenoid l9, thus pulling down upon the arm against the tension of the spring 24. As the switch 21, is only momentarily closed, the effect will be a quick, snappy pull on the left side of the arm Is, as viewed in Fig. 3. As the spring 24, acts to return the arm to a horizontal position, the bottom of the lever 3|, will engage the end of the lever 29, which will cause the lever 3|, to press the button of the micro switch 28, and to cause the current to flow to the solenoid 2!, thus energizing the same and causing a quick pull on the right side of the arm l5. As soon as the arm has reached the limit of its clockwise movement,

it will again tend to move back in a counter-- clockwise direction and the same operation will take place as that just described. In other words, the solenoids l9 and 2!, will be alternately actuated so as to impart a rocking motion to the arm IS, which will continue as long as the controlling switch is closed.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a device which will accomplish all the objects above set forth.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A signal comprising a base, a supporting structure mounted on said base, a horizontal arm pivotally mounted on said support, spring means for normally holding said arm in horizontal position, a pair of electrically controlled solenoids for working said arm about said pivot, and a signal positioned on said arm and offset from the pivot of said arm so as to move in an arcuate line of travel when said arm is activated.

2. In a signal of the character described having a hollow base, a barricade mounted on said base, a support carried by said barricade, a horizontally disposed arm pivoted on said support, a signal lamp mounted on said arm and ofiset from the pivot of said arm, a pair of solenoids rigidly mounted on opposite sides of said support, flexible means connecting the armature of each of said solenoids with said arm and on opposite sides of it pivotal support, resilient means connecting said arm and said support and holding said arm in horizontal position when said device is at rest, a switch mounted on said support and having switch actuating lever extending therefrom, a second switch mounted on said arm and having a switch actuating lever mounted thereon, said levers being in angular alignment with each other, whereby the pivotal movement of said arm wall alternately actuate said levers to alternately energize said solenoids.

EMILE A. LIEUTARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,142,650 Wilhelm June 8, 1915 1,659,850 Zorn Feb. 21, 1928 2,035,841 Signor Mar. 21, 1936 2,159,636 Robert May 23, 1939 

